Truth to Power

Saturday, February 4, 2012

A year has gone by without posting here. Find me over on facebook. Tobey's turning one this month. Life is markedly slower and more peaceful as a single parent refraining from compulsive activity. James will be sixteen at the end of May. Yikes!

Monday, January 31, 2011

I sent the email below to my legislators and encourage you to do the same before I sent the email below to my legislators and urge you to contact yours to co-sponsor this bill before the February 4, 2011 deadline for co-sponsors.

Dear Representative Ashe and Senator Brewer:

"I hope you will add your name as a co-sponsor to the Transportation Economic Development and Ridership Act submmitted by our friend Rep. Carl Sciortino (Medford).This bill will create a safer, more modern transportation system across the entire commonwealth by increasing public transportation ridership, fixing deteriorating roads, spurring job creation, and creating more transportation choices for consumers. I greatly appreciate your support for infrastructure improvements in my community and our region. We still have a long way to go to repair and improve our transportation systems which are not only economically vital but needed for safety.Please contact the office of Rep. Carl Sciortino (Medford) to add your name as a co-sponsor to House docket #2840."

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Check out the Town of Monson Emergency Preparednessconversation with community members, Liz Manley-Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) Coordinator and me at the Monson Free Library (click November 16, 2010 Emergency Preparedness).

Thank you to our MRC volunteers, the Monson Board of Health, Council on Aging, School Department, Monson Free Library, the Local Emergency Planning Committee, American Red Cross-Pioneer Valley Chapter, Board of Selectmen, Mass211, M-PACT-TV and our First Responders - Police, Fire and EMTs.

For more information about family emergency preparedness go to www.wmmrc.org

Sunday, October 31, 2010

There were so many people on the mall Saturday that I was unable to see or hear anything from the stage. I guess the organizers were not expecting so many, and thus did not place speakers far enough back for the last two-thirds of us. Since I couldn't follow what was happening on the stage, I used my time to collect signs.

My collection was totally eclectic, its only rule being that I had to be able to read the entire sign. Much to my surprise, very few of them were printed; at least 95% (other than those that just touted 'sanity' and 'fear') were unique, hand-written signs. They covered a very wide range of topics - with pro-Democratic and anti-Tea Party or Glenn Beck or Fox being in the majority (or perhaps just a plurality), but by no means overwhelming. A few were Republican. Many focused on keeping the dialogue civil. Some made no sense at all.

Rather than attempt to organize them in any way, here they are:

·$2 billion a day for war isn’t security.It’s a scandal.

·A fact ignored is no less true.

·A pox on Fox.

·A true American eats bald eagle eggs.

·America seems cranky.Time for a night.

·Apprehensive Canadians for truthiness.

·Assuming either the left wing or the right wing gained control of the country, it would

My background

I live in the beautiful rural community of Monson, Massachusetts.
I am a lifelong Massachusetts resident.
Attended and swam varsity/co-captain, four years at Tufts University (B.S., 1982). Graduate school, Springfield College (M.Ed., 1989). Licensed Mental Health Counselor, certified Health Educator and School Psychologist.
Fourth woman to serve on the Monson Board of Selectmen 2003-2009.
Western MA Casino Task Force founding member, United to Stop Slots in Massachusetts, President. Monson Developmental Center Re-use Committee, Chairperson.
Having a voice in the democratic process and being a voice for those who cannot express their needs is one of my fundamental life missions.
I especially enjoy my son, our horse Willow and sunshine.